Statistical card comparing machine



Jan. 31, 1950 J. 'r. FERRY STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE l7 Sh6ts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1944 FIG. 3

FIG. 2

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INVENTOR JOHNE FERRY BY 7/1 1L A TTO RN EY Jan. 31, 1950 J. T. FERRY STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE l7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1944 FIG. 5

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FIG. 5

FIG. 6

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lNVENT'OR I JOHN T FER'RY BY j/L 4,613

ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. T. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD GQMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 F IG. 6

240 o cf 43 1 A INVENTOR JOHN T. FE RRY ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. 'r. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING momma Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 MArcH g T [I] Z INVENTOR JOH N T. FERRY ATTOR NEY Jan. 31, 1950 J ,T. FERR 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7. 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 LLM INVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY ATTORNEY .Jan. 31, 1950 J. 'r. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 'Ill NVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR JOHN T FERRY BY yLL/JLL ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. T. FERRY STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. '7, 1944 all BIO

INVENTOR JOHN T. FE RRY AT TORNE Y 1950 J. T. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Shets-Sheet 9 lNVENTOR JOHN T FE RRY ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. T.' FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 1 Sheets-Sheet 10 lN VENTOR JOHN T. FE R RY BY L41M ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. T. FERRY STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE l7 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 7, 1944 INVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 ,1. T. FERRY STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE l7 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 7, 1944 INVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. 'r. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 I I 235 235 7t 1304 77 248 303 6 so HQ 2] lNVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY pal/6M ATTORNEY -Jan. 31, 1950 J. T. FEYRRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD GOMPARING MACHINE Filedflec. 7, 1-944 1'? Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR JOHN T FERRY BY bLLJL ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1950 J. T. FERRY 2,496,124

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MA IIINE Filed Dec. 7, 1944 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 MASTER 2 3 MASTER CARD CARD SENS'NG MAGAZINE MECHANISM MASTER CARD 29o sENs. CHAM.

READING RETAINING MECHANISM COMPARING MECHANISM MASTER CARD RECEIVER MASTER CARD EJECT I I MASTER CARD DETAIL CARD COMPARING PINI COMPARING I I l A SSEMBLY ASSEMBLY '42 a as 5 552 PUNCH PUNCH cARD TRAN SLA'I'OR TRAN SLAI'OR sET- PIN UPPER DETAIL CARD BASKET AND PIN aox MAGAZINE PUNCH cAcs I I I70 DETAIL CARD PUNCH CHAM.

SENSING CHAM DETAIL c'ARD sENsINc MECHANISM INTERJILE DETAIL CARD DETAIL CARD POCKET RECEIVER EJECT INVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY BY )4 LJLL ATTORNEY Jan. 31,, 1950 Filed Dec, 7., 194 4 J. T. FERRY STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE 11"! Sheets-Sheet 17 FIG.25.

DISPOSITION DISPOSITION OF I OF DETAIL -CARDS MASTER CARDS (SOR-TING) (SORTINGI J DETAII. DETAIL MASTER MASTER EFFECTWE WITH WITH NON- WITH WITH. NON- m COMPARING COMPARING COMPARING COMPARING P g MASTERS MASTERS DETAILS DETAILS SELECTED a FEED CAM g E g g E E G U w u: U 5 G 0 uJ U LLI y. U hJ- Q h] U u U LII III Z [d z u z N Z OPERATION cAM J. F J J 5 J NUMBER NUMBER .9 B E E E E 8 f f. f. 2

I 780 Y X Y x l A 780 x x x Y I 3-; 780 x x x x I c 760 x x x y I D 780 x x x x l E 760 x x x X I F 760 x 'X x x l c 780 x x X Y I H 780 A I x x I x l I 780 x x x x l J 780 x x v x I K 760 Y Y x x 2 I760) x x x I! 2A (750 x x I! x 25 new x x I x INVENTOR JOHN T. FERRY )ALLALLL;

ATTORN Y Patented Jan. 31, 1 950 STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE John T. Ferry, Brooklyn, N. Y. assignor to Remfialo, N. Y., a corporation ington Rand Inc., Bu of Delaware Application December 7, 1944, Serial No. 567,041 16 Claims. (Cl. 209-110) This invention relates to machines for comparin patterns of perforations, or other designated indications, in different records, and more particularly to record sorting and segregating devices which may be effected as a result of the comparison and/or non-comparison between such patterns.

The invention described herein isshown embodied in a statistical card comparing machine of the type shown and described in patent to Braun 2,211,094, dated August 13, 1940, and patcut to McDonnell 2,229,983, dated January 28, 1941. However, while the invention is shown in the above type of machine, it will be understood that the same may be used in connection with any other type of statistical machine without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to the above. mentioned Patent 2,211,094, any one or more of three different functions, namely, sorting, punching, or stopping the machine, may be effected or varied as the result of a comparison and/or non-comparison of pre-punched data. For performing the first function, i. e., to segregate or sort the detail and master records having identical designated perforation patterns ,from the non-comparing detail and master records, the machine is provided with two receiving pockets for detail records and'two additional receiving pockets .for master records. Interlocking deflector mechanisms, operable by a control mechanism when a comparison or non-comparison is sensed, are provided for each set of receiving pockets whereby comparing detail and master records may be passed to the rear or receiver pocket andnom comparing details .and/or masters may be passed to the front or eject pocket, or vice versa-as desired. Throughout the, specification, detail and. master records that contain identical designative perforation patterns are referred to as comparing master and detail records, whereas detail and master records that. contain designative data which is not identical are referred to as non-comparing master and detail records.

For performing the second function, i. e., to punch additional information in the detail records, the machine is provided with a punch mechanism, settableunder control of themaster records, whereby any one or more columns of information in a master record may be transferred to a detail record. A punch'ret'i act mechanism, operable by the control mechanism, is arranged to cancel or erase the settin in the punch mechanism, whereby punching may be prevented in either comparing detail records or in non-comparing detail records, as desired.

For performing the third function, i. e., to

stop the machine (e. g. to permit the insertion of control or supplemental records at various points in a run), means operable by the control mechanism may be arranged to actuate the machine stopping mechanism when either a comparison or a non-comparison is sensed, as desired. Each of the devices for elfecting the above mentioned functions may be used individually or in combination with either or both of the other devices.

In addition to the foregoing functions, the above machine is also provided with means for effecting a plurality of different types of record feeding operations, according to the quantitative relationship of the master and detail records to be handled in a particular problem, in conjunction with any desired combination of the above m ntioned sorting, punching, and stopping operations. Therefore, the above machine is provided with variably settable operating means for the master and/or detail record feeding mechanisms whereby eight different types of record feeding may be effected. as follows:

1. To feed master and detail records simultaneously on a comparison, and on a non-comparison;

2. To feed detail records only on a comparison and on a non-comparison;

3. To feed master and detail records simultaneously on a comparison, and only master records on a non-comparison;

4. To feed master and detail records simultaneously on a comparison, and only detail records r on a non-comparison;

5. To feed only detail records on a comparison, and only master records on a non-comparison;

6. To feed only master records on a compari@- son, and master and detail records simultaneously on a non-comparison;

'7. To feed only detail records on a c-ompari son, and master and detail records simultaneusly on a, non-comparison; or

8. To feed only master records on a comparison, and only detail records on a non-comparison.

Thus, any type of accounting problem involving the comparison and/or the non-comparison of master and detail records in which one of the preceding types of record feeding operations is employed, and in which sorting, punching, stopping" of the machine, or any combination thereof is to be effected, may be performed by the machine above described. According to the second mentioned Patent 2,229,983, a sorting control mechanism is provided which may be selectively preset at any one of three different position, i. e., B, U, or L, whereby the deflector mechanisms may be operated in a manner to pass the comparing and/or noncomparing records into receiver or eject pockets as follows:

B. Comparing detail and master records may be passed to their receiver" pockets, and non-comparing detail and master records may be passed to their eject pockets, or, conversely, comparing detail and master records may be passed to their eject pockets and non-comparing detail and master records may be passed to their receiver pockets.

U. Comparing and non-comparing detail records and comparing master records may be passed to their receiver pockets and non-comparing master records may be passed to their eject pocket, or, conversely, comparing and non-comparing detail records and non-comparing master records may be passed to their receiver pockets, and comparing master records may be passed to their eject pocket.

L. Comparin and non-comparing master records and comparin detail records may be passed to their receiver pockets, and non-comparing detail records may be passed to their eject pockets, or conversely, comparing and non-comparing master records and non-comparing detail records may be passed to their receiver pocket and comparing detail records may be passed to their eject pocket.

As there are limitless bookkeeping and accounting problems which necessitate segregating or sorting punch records in various ways, depending upon the problem on hand, the present invention provides means whereby the sorting capacity of statistical machines of the above type may be substantially increased.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fifth receiving pocket, hereinafter called the inter-file pocket, in which comparing and/or non-comparing detail and master records may be passed in alternate arrangement, e. g., master record, detail record, master record, detail record, etc. A second sorting control mechanism is also provided herein which may be selectively preset in any one of four different positions, and which is dependent upon the setting of the above first mentioned sorting control mechanism, set forth in the above Patent 2,229,983, to cause the operation of the deflector mechanisms in a manner to pass comparing and/or non-comparing records to the receiver, eject, and/or interfile pockets as follows:

With the first mentioned sorting control mechanism pre-set at its B position and the second mentioned sorting control mechanism pre-set at its Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 positions respectively, the following sorting functions may be obtained:

No. 1 position, comparing master and detail records may be passed to their respective receiver pockets, and non-comparing master and detail records may be passed to their respective eject pockets, or conversely, as desired.

N0. 2 position, comparing detail and master records may be passed into the inter-file pocket in an alternate arrangement with the master record preceding its associated detail record, and non-comparing master and detail records may be passed to their respective eject pockets.

No. 3 position, all comparing and non-comparing master and detail records may be passed to the inter-file pocket in an alternate arrangement with the master record preceding its associated detail record.

No. 4 position, non-comparing master and detail records may be passed into the inter-file pocket in an alternate arrangement with the master record preceding its associated non-comparing detail record, and comparing master and detail records may be passed to their respective eject pockets.

With the first mentioned sorting control mechanism pre-set at its U position and the second sorting control mechanism pre-set at its Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 positions, respectively, the following sorting functions may be obtained:

No. 1 position, comparin and non-comparing detail records and comparing master records may be passed to their respective receiver pockets, and non-comparing master records may be passed to their eject pocket, or, conversely, as desired.

No. 2 position, all comparing master and detail records and non-comparing detail records may be passed to the inter-file pocket, in an alternate arrangement with the master record preceding its associated detail record and non-comparing master records may be passed to their eject pocket.

No. 3 position, all comparing and non-comparing master and detail records may be passed to the inter-file pocket in an alternate arrangement with the master records preceding their associated comparing or non-comparing detail records.

No. 4 position, all comparing master and detail records and non-comparing detail records may be passed to their respective eject pockets, and all non-comparin master records may be passed to the inter-file pocket.

With the first mentioned sorting control mechanism set at its L position, and the second mentioned sorting control mechanism pre-set at its Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 positions, respectively, the following sorting functions may be obtained:

No. 1 position, comparing and non-comparing master records and comparing detail records may be passed to their respective receiver pocket, and non-comparing detail records may be passed to their eject pocket, or, conversely, as desired.

No. 2 position, all comparing master and detail records and non-comparing master records may be passed to the inter-file pocket in an alternate arrangement with the master record preceding its associated detail record, and non-comparing detail records may be passed into their eject pocket.

No. 3 position, all comparing and non-comparing detail and master records may be passed to the inter-file pocket in an alternate arrangement with the master records preceding their associated comparing or non-comparing detail records.

No. 4 position, all comparing master and detail records and non-comparing master records may be passed to their respective eject pockets and non-comparing detail records may be passed to the inter-file pocket.

Any of the above segregational and inter-filing functions may be effected selectively and in combination with either or both of the record punching and machine stopping functions of the machine, upon the sensing of a comparison, or noncomparison between designative perforation patterns inmaster and detail records. Further, an operation selector mechanism is provided whereby a given machine may be preconditioned, in accordance with th several individual types of record handling problems that may arise in a given accounting or statistical system, to effect selectively any one of a plurality of the various available combinational operations of the record sorting, and/or record punching, and/or machine stopping and record feeding. Thus, any type of accounting problem involving the comparison or non-comparison of master and detail records, in which one of the preceding types of record feeding operations is employed, and in which sorting, punching, and stopping of the machine, or any combination thereof, is to be effected, may be performed by the machine comprising the present invention.

The principal object of this invention is to substantially increase the number of different combinational operations that may be performed in a statistical record comparing machine.

Another object of this invention is to selectively segregate and inter-file master and/or detail records upon the sensing of a comparison or noncomparison between designative perforation patterns in master and detail records.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a statistical card comparing machine comprising the present invention with cover plates in place;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are left hand, right hand, and rear elevations, respectively, of the machine with cover plates in place;

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 considered together, comprise a left side elevation of th invention, partly in section, in conjunction with elements of a statistical card comparing machine that cooperate therewith, showing the relative positions of the several elements when the machine is in normal or stopping position. In Fig. 5 are shown the control device, and the sortin control lever and associated mechanisms; in Fig. 6 are shown the master card deflector operating mechanisms; in Fig. 7 are shown the detail card deflector operating mechanisms, and the sorting control knob and associated mechanisms;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram indicating the manner in which Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are combined;

Figs. 9 and 10 considered together comprise a right side elevation of the invention taken just inside the door cover. In Fig, 9 is shown the master card feed roll drive mechanism and in Fig. 10 is shown the detail card feed roll drive mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view, partly in section, disclosing the master card deflector, and feed roll drive mechanisms;

Fig. 12 is a top plan sectional view, taken along the line |2-l2 of Fig. 7, disclosing the detail card deflectors, the selection control mechanism, and the detail card feed roll mechanism;

Figs. 13 and 14 considered together comprise a left side cross sectional elevation of the invention, Fig. 13 being taken along the line l3-I3 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 14 being taken along the line l4|4 of Fig. 12. In Fig. 13 are shown the master card deflectors and feed rolls, and in Fig. 14 are shown detail card deflectors and feed rolls;

Fig. 15 is a view taken along the line I5- I5 of Fig. 5 showing the relative positions ofthe operation selector dial and the sorting control lever;

Fig. 16 is a detail of the control device actuating mechanism showing the parts in the position attained at the end of a cycle in which a comparison is sensed;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of the inner ratchet of the control device actuating mechanism;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of the outer ratchet of the control device actuating mechanism;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail plan section, taken along the line l9|9 of Figs. 5 and 7, disclosing the selection control knob and its associated mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a left side elevational detail view of the selection control knob and its associated mechanism set at its No. 2 position in conjunction with the deflector mechanisms of the master and detail card receiving pockets, showing the relative positions of the several elements when the machine is in normal or stopping position;

Fig. 21 is a left side elevational detail view similar to Fig. 20, but with the selection control knob and its associated mechanism set at its No. 3 position;

Fig. 22 is a left side elevational detail view similar to Fig; 21, but with the selection control knob and its associated mechanism set at its No. 4 position;

Fig. 23 is a schematic illustration of the principal elements of a statistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed inthe" above'cited patents;

Fig. 24 is a chart indicating various combinational settings of the operation control cam, the sorting control lever, and selection control knob for effecting different types of card handling operations; and

Fig. 25 is a chart illustrating the disposition of master and detail cards for each of the operations indicated in Fig. 24 when the card feeding control disc, for causing simultaneous master and detail card feeding on a comparison and noncomparison, is effective.

To facilitate an understanding of the invention, a brief description of a statistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in the above cited Patent 2,211,094, with which the invention is particularly adapted to function, is included hereinafter. For a detailed description of such machine, reference may be had to the above cited patent.

Statistical card comparing machine-Basic mechanism In a machine of the type disclosed in the cited patent detail cards are placed in a detail card magazine I10 (see Fig. 23) and are passed seriatim to suitable feed rolls whereby they are conveyed, first, to the detail card sensing chamber in which their perforated data is analyzed, then, in the following cycle, to a punch chamber in which additional data may be perforated in the cards.

- In the next cycle, the detail cards are conveyed from the punch chamber either to the receiver pocket 21 or to an eject pocket 28, depending on the setting of the sorting control mechanism and the character of the designative data in the cards. During the period in which a detail card is held in the detail card sensing chamber, the perforation pattern therein is analyzed by sensing pins mounted in a reciprocating pin box of-the detail card sensing mechanism whereby. a mechanical representation of such perforation pattern is transmitted, by means of pins in an upper pin box and translator wires in a translator 255, 

